Elma Bibiam Naranjo Estepa

Elma is co-advised by Prof. Chen and Prof. Ulijn at the nanoscience initiative at the ASRC and is currently working with water-responsive materials, specifically with peptide crystals; she is exploring pre-organization and induced fit within chemo-mechanical peptide materials.

Elma's research journey involves synthesizing and characterizing peptide crystals, employing cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. By carefully manipulating and investigating the structural arrangements of these crystals, she seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that govern their responsiveness to water. Her findings could potentially advance our understanding of the design principles behind novel materials with applications in fields such as sensors, drug delivery systems, and bio-inspired engineering.